THE F-4 PHANTOM JOINS THE FLEET 1962 MCDONNELL FILM USS FORRESTAL F4H-1 PHANTOM II 81084

This McDonnell produced film “The Phantom Joins the Fleet” was made in 1962 when their F4H-1 (later F-4B) Phantom II had just achieved deployment. The film features Fighter Squadron SEVEN FOUR (VF-74) aka Bedevilers flying from the nearly-new aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA-59) along with the rest of Carrier Air Wing EIGHT (CVW-8).
Some of the other aircraft seen in the film include the Vought F8U-2N Crusaders of VF-103 Sluggers, the Douglas A4D-2N Skyhawks of VA-83 Rampagers and A4D-2 Skyhawks of VA-81 Crusaders, the Douglas AD-6 Skyraiders of VA-85 Black Falcons, the A3D-2 Skywarriors of VAH-5 Savage Sons, the Vought F8U-1P Photo Crusaders of VFP-62 Fighting Photos (Detachment), the Grumman WF-2 Tracers of VAW-12 Bats (Detachment), and the Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever helicopters of HC-2 Fleet Angels (Detachment).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@gordonm9541]

Starting about 10:06 my dad, “Gordo” Murray, is the pilot in aircraft #105 launching from Cat 1. He accumulated almost 4,000 hours, 3, 700 jet, 2,600+ in various F-4 models over his career as a Naval Aviator. He absolutely loved flying the F-4’s.

[@marctronixx]

much respect for you dad and his service to this country.

[@user-if2fc7ef4j]

F-18E Strike Fighter Squadron 74 Bedevilers

[@user-if2fc7ef4j]

F-4 Fighter Squadron 74 Bedevilers

[@enricomandragona163]

Kudos!! I heard of him

[@enricomandragona163]

​They never flew Hornets!!

[@theoldar]

Whenever my dad saw an F-4 in Air Force markings, he would say it was "in sheep's clothing". He was a 25 year brown shoe navy man.

[@nicholasmaude6906]

Yet the ultimate F-4 variant was the F-4E used by the USAF.

[@allandavis8201]

What is a “brown shoe man” please.

[@nicholasmaude6906]

@@allandavis8201 IIRC Brown Shoes refers to naval aviators while black shoes refers to surface navy sailors.

[@theoldar]

@@allandavis8201 That is the aviation part of the Navy.

[@thomass4471]

@@nicholasmaude6906 Depends on your defintion of ultimate. The -E model had the gun. But as far as engines, electronics and manueverability it was the -S model which was Navy

[@diamond_tango]

Beautiful ship, and a beautiful plane to launch off it. Shame about the fire.

[@Blovi-qd4lh]

First tour was F-4J onboard US Independence. VF-33. Have over 2500 hours in the Phantom and of the tactical jets I flew…F-14, A-4, F-16…Phantom my very favorite. F-4 D,N,J,S….

[@trumanstumo1718]

At Pax River Navel Test Center in 1960-63 we tested a F4 H PHANTOM. It had a picture of Casper the Frindly ghost painted on it. I at the time was a Plane Captain on the Chance vought F8U. In those years we were required to pull flight time so i took full advantage of the back seat of the F4. The Test pilots always took us on the ride of our lives!! At 81 now i have never experienced anything like it.Even have a gold mach two pin from McDonald Douglas.

[@johnjackson8401]

When the F-4 came out, it was 20 years ahead of its time. The Germans and Israelis loved the plane and enhanced the avionics flying it well into the first decade of this millennium.👍👍

[@tailspin37]

Great video. I served on board the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) from 1956 to 1959. She was the first Super Carrier. I was in the first crew, known as a Plank Owner. JohnC. US Navy Veteran

[@tailspin37]

@Durontae Jones No, they do not get jettisoned overboard. If you look at the bow of the ship at flight deck level, you will see two extensions sticking out. They catch the cables. JohnC.

[@thomasnikkola5600]

I'm a Plankowner on the USS Boxer LHD4. Commissioned in 1995. ABH3 V1 Div crash and salvage. Left her in March of 1998.

[@thetreblerebel]

My uncle served aboard a Carrier I fo not know which one but he worked with the steam. He went in 1966 served three deployments to southeast Asia. He had pictures of helos overboard in 1975 for the evacuation of Vietnam

[@mikeray1544]

Hello from an old SeaBee (Batallion &/Atlantic fleet)....I met a Forestall crew member 1.5 yrs ago....nice guy....Nice to see your report Mr.Callahan....what was your rating?.......Thanks , CM3 Mike Ray(USNR-ret).

[@nicholasmaude6906]

@@tailspin37 I always wondered what those two extensions were for.

[@andradejurk]

1962...Two years before i was born... amazing. Is always nice to see this super fighter that made history. Regards from Brazil.

[@Cakey831]

Those have to be the coolest flight suits of all time…

[@everythingman987]

Orange flight suits were worn by fighter pilots well into the 1980's but only with one squadron: VF-114 the "Aardvarks". Most of the rest of the air wing hated them for it! During Vietnam operations, Navy and Marine flight crews actually started wearing camouflage pattern flight suits.

[@darthstanley166]

The record setting had to be the best part! Sage burner and sky burner are worth looking into as well! Long live the F4!

[@blueseanomad7435]

Now I know where all the B-Roll for F-4 documentaries comes from.

[@johntoes7542]

I served with VF-74 onboard both the Forestall and the Nimitz from 1974-1978 (both Air wing 8 and 17)

[@enricomandragona163]

Im proud to have done the last 3 deployments with a full compliment of Phantoms last being the S model VF-74 and 103 & VMF 115

[@TheLeadSled]

F-4 Phantom II an American Icon. One of the longest serving planes in US history, 1962-1996. It served the US Air Force, US Marines & US Navy at the same time, it had the speed, power and arsenal to take on multiple rolls.

[@nicholasmaude6906]

There are still a small number of QF-4 target-drones in service.

[@garymohler4436]

@mydixiewrecked2 no the A-10 Warthog has served the longest.

[@justforever96]

​@@garymohler4436what part of "one of the longest serving" is difficult for you? In any case you are wrong. The F-15 went into service before the A-10, and the B-52 well before that.

[@roryschweinfurter4111]

There is nothing like watching the ballet that is aircraft carrier flight operations the choreography is beyond mind boggling

[@bret9741]

I was a little boy during this time. By the time I joined the Navy, all F-4’a were replaced by F-14’s and only the Marines had some F-4’s left (Air Force still had Wild Weasels and air National Guard units operating a few F-4’s and RF-4’s. But in general, the era of the F-4 in the US ended rather quickly. In 1988 we had some Marine F-4’s do carrier qual on our ship, then fly home to trade them in for New FA/18’s. I loved the F-14. I particularly liked the F-14D’s. However, my heart has always had a fondness for the F-4 than no other fighter has been able to truly feel. As far as looks, from the front and side, I think it is about the best looking jet fighter. It has a beautifully and yet extremely aggressive stance. In the 1990’s I got to see several Luftwaffe F-4’s that had been recently gone through a modest overhaul including new paint, tires, and glass. These fighters were at Pensacola for some kind of training. Anyway, it just struck me as the most beautiful fighter on the flight line. The Japanese maintained their F-4’s in absolute prestige condition all the way up to retirement. Of all the militaries that truly pushed the F-4 to its limit, the Israeli Air Force takes too honors. Israel like the platform so much they spent large sums developing new modifications that would have made the F-4 significantly better than the F-15A-C. If you’ve never read about this F-4 update here is the link. www.google.com/amp/s/nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/1980s-israel-developed-heavy-hammer-f-4-super-phantom-what-happened-44702%3famp. If the US had allowed Israel to make these modification and sold them to other nations, we probably would see F-4’s being overhauled to fly another 20 years even today. If the article is true, the modified F-4 would have been capable of SuperCruise at speeds comparable to the F-22, Carry a larger bomb load than the F-15E, have a turn radius on par with he F-16 and better take off and landing performance. Regardless, the USAF wanted new F-15’a and didn’t want to risk having to spend money on F-4’s that might risk F-15 sales. Regarded. Like the TomCat 21 and other might have been…. We can only dream.

[@marctronixx]

thank you for your service.

[@mikeray1544]

Nice to see ops footage of Forrestal w/o mention of Mc.cain......

[@efromhb]

Agreed. What still astonishes me is why he laid in state while Sen. John Glenn (real hero) did not.

[@davidefland1985]

My last deployment was on the Constellation CV-64.

[@jimsvideos7201]

That LSO sure has an interesting hat.

[@thetreblerebel]

What's up with dat?

[@cargo4441]

The A-3D2 Is a beast.

[@Audfile]

I'll never own one but we already have flawless VR simulators that are within a generation away from complete photorealism.

[@Kirkee7]

Its still a great looking aircraft

[@MichiganPeatMoss]

These fighter helmets must've inspired the Star Wars Rebel squadrons. :) "Red Leader"

[@katherineberger6329]

Lucas built the X-Wing helmet on Vietnam-era US fighter helmets. So not these, but the ones after these. The military is looking to replace the 4-pound monsters that we currently have with something lighter. Trying to reduce the incidence of neck and back problems in older fighter pilots.

[@saul2007t]

Great & awesome video...Wow!

[@wkat950]

I saw one of my uncle's films from when he was on the Sara. It was from the time period between Korea and when the Phantom arrived. I looked at the F3H's and other birds and wondered, "Where are the F-4 Phantoms?" He got out before the F4H/F4 arrived. I guess it's because the Phantom was so heavily used when I was growing up.

[@dastumpyone6110]

Awesome video, missed opportunity to name the video " The F-4 Phantom joins the Phleet" though.

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

What a job, working the runway on an aircraft carrier.

[@kevinballenger1211]

When I First Got Aboard The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), In Air Dept/ V-1 Div, As An ABH3 In 1980, We Were Still Using Phantoms. But They Were Well Past Their Prime! Each Time They'd Hit The Deck, Nuts & Bolts Would Fly Off Them, And Hydraulic Fluid Would Be Leaking Everywhere! It Was Sad To See Such A Great Aircraft Go Out Like That, But The F-14 Tomcats Took Their Place Afterwards! ⚓

[@glynnjacobs9602]

Nothing like the thrill of carrier air ops! Glynn "WARDOG" Jacobs

[@Red-rl1xx]

Great video!

[@martindavis9930]

Practice, practice, practice that ordinance handling and fire fighting... we're gonna need it.

[@danielginther4879]

I remember VF-11 and VF-74 on the FID in 77/78

[@Rezin_8]

My Great Uncle Ron flew these in Korean conflict.....the first air to sea rescue during war; freight helicopter scooped him

[@justforever96]

The F-4 came out after Korea was over, almost ten years after. They were operating the F9F Panther and F2H Banshee in Korea. Maybe you are thinking of the Banshee, which is also by McDonell and based on the FH Phantom which was out of service by Korea.

[@jrc1729]

My dad may have been on this cruise. Definitely in vf74. My brother and i had be-devilets patches sown on our jackets. Got stopped trying to get on northside (beside oceana). Guard at gate thought we were gang members. Seriously. I would hsve been in 7-8 grade. Irvin "bud" claxton (clax) retired in 67 iirc.

[@edwardgoering1237]

Thanks VMFA-115 for allowing me

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks for your service to our great nation.

[@TXTigresa]

AIMD of NAS Bermuda was along the runway and the scream of an F-4 engine was the only one to get me to open the fire doors of my van (AE shop 620) to find out what kind of bird could have that engine scream. That Phantom was in town for the 1985 annual NAS airshow and even after 35 years, I clearly remember stepping out of the van to stand there and watch that Phantom rolling to the staging area behind the post office. The NAS doubled as Bermuda's airport and over the course of 2 years I heard just about everything that flew when it went by on the tarmac. No other bird I've ever heard, sounds like an F-4 and at the beginning of this film on approach you can hear that scream.

[@lukestrawwalker]

Yeah when I was in high school in the 80's, I was spray painting a cotton picker, I was up on top of the sloped slick sheet metal basket roof, hanging on with one hand and leaning WAY out to the edge with the spray gun in the other hand, trying not to slip off the d@mn thing painting back towards me so I could climb over the grates onto the narrow catwalk down the length of the roof used when you cleaned the grates. I saw something out of the corner of my eye at about maybe 150-200 feet altitude, looked like I could touch the thing... It was an F-4, screaming over *just* subsonic, because I never heard a thing until it was almost DIRECTLY overhead, and then the scream and roar arrived and d@mn near blew me clean off that roof with the noise of it... it was flying in from the south, doubtlessly coming in from off the beach 60 miles south of us, flying north on a training mission no doubt... we had a LOT of training flights go over the farm 45 miles SW of Houston back in the 80's, saw everything from A-4 Skyhawks to F-4 Phantom II's to F-16 Falcons, even a pair of A-10's at one point that were practicing dogfighting over the farm one day while I was plowing... out of all of them that F-4 made the biggest impression-- not only the distinctive screaming roar, but it's a d@mn big plane for a fighter/bomber... no wonder they called them the "lead sled"... LOL:) Later! OL J R :)

[@allgood6760]

Cool👍

[@dkoz8321]

Anyone else notice ythat meatball OLS was mounted on a moveable cart on starboard side of landing are, instead on port side fixed station on the ship. First time I saw that.

[@denisetrine3066]

The F-4 Phantom was quite in that it was the only aircraft used by every service except the Coast Guard lol.

[@65gtotrips]

I never realized they used ‘bridles’ and not the front landing gear shuttle back then.

[@Blovi-qd4lh]

Yee gads, mirror on right side of landing area…things really changed from this to 1975, when I started the F-4J…aircraft and carriers.

[@nicholasmaude6906]

I wonder if PeriscopeFilms has any films about the F-4A?

[@josemelendez8549]

Ah ! Served on the Forestal. M-Div slept in the aft quarters under the hangar deck when there were flight operations around the clock The Landings would rocks us to sleep 😴

[@kakz1466]

KEWL!

[@mountainryder3056]

American combat aircraft have cool name designations.

[@tallwalls76]

My Navy was lean and mean…broads and walruses on the flight deck today.

[@rapman5363]

It’s a real shame

[@thomasnikkola5600]

Hey Bro just letting you know that I worked with some chicks who'd run circles around the guys chocking and chaining! Also some damn good gals directing! Crash and Salvage was all guys because of the rescue aspect so us stronger guys were in crash. Also it used to be that women took up the good shore duties but now they are integrated on the carriers thats not a problem anymore. I'm a former ABH 3 USS Boxer LHD 4 V1 Div. Crash and Salvage. But there were a few chicks but no walruses that I saw! Also we launch and recover more aircraft per day than ever in history! Also its a safer flight deck with far fewer mishaps involving persons and aircraft! Proud modern Navy ABH!

[@GoSlash27]

17:25 A-12 Oxcart pilots: "Cool story, Bro"

[@dkoz8321]

Back in mid to late 1970's, when USN F-4J crews transitioned to F-14, most loved F-14, but F-4 they loved more. F-4 was safer in the groove to trap.

[@65gtotrips]

Boy, those GE J79’s sure we’re smokey

[@justforever96]

That they were. But not much worse than earlier engines for the most part, and far lighter and smaller for the thrust they created. They were engineering marvels for their era, and still one of the legendary engines of all time.

[@lindathrall5133]

THAT'S MR.PHANTOM TO YOU

[@thomasryan5736]

Good old Whale with a bolter.

[@suziemccue9925]

So... bridles were only used once? did they go flying off into the ocean?

[@gordonm9541]

Suzie McCue no, they were captured in the “bridle catcher” (the two downward sloping prongs) on the bow of the ship and reused upon inspection. More modern aircraft designs did away with the bridles and a “launch bar” was built into the nose landing gear strut and latched into the catapult shuttle and after launch folded into the nose wheel well with the landing gear.

[@slowneutron6163]

If I had an F-4, I'd just..........................................fly away, man.

[@Blovi-qd4lh]

J model had some real improvements. Slotted stab, aileron droop, -10 engines….Great jet. As was the ‘S’….-10B smokeless engines, slats…

[@GIGATHEBOT]

"USS Forrestal" Oh no...

[@jamesbugbee6812]

This is all a most serious means of slappin' someone's melon.

[@65gtotrips]

They forgot to mention the ‘purple grapes’ for fuel⛽️, unless they didn’t have purple back then ?

[@thetreblerebel]

The impact and legacy the F4 made in it's many variants and millions of flight hours has cemented it as one of the most successful military aircraft ever made...St Louie Slugger! She never got to do what she was designed to do . Chase down and shoot the SHIT out of Russian Bombers!! Instead..she had to bomb, fight, and escort strike groups. That she did it all damn well, but if those TU95s ever flew over the North Pole, it'd been the Phantom IIs intended mission to defend the North American hemisphere against Ivan The Red

[@14goldmedals]

That's also a priority mission for our Canadian fighter pilots. Intercepting Russian bombers kept our guys busy during the Cold War. Knowing the USA has fighters in Alaska was a real comfort as a kid growing up in those years.

[@justforever96]

The F-4 was designed from the start to be a fighter bomber as well, they talk about it in the very earliest training videos. And it was never designed to "intercept Russian bombers" (Soviet, not the same thing). That was what the Air Force did, the F-102 and 106. The F-4 was a carrier interceptor and meant to defend the carrier task group, which is more likely to be attacked by strike planes than bombers. It was accepted into USAF service after the fact and mostly as a fighter bomber and air superiority fighter. They already had the F-106 to defend the mainland US.

[@thetreblerebel]

Navy aviators are the best because of a thing called...the night trap

[@f4tweet]

Marines do it too.

[@justforever96]

It's all automated now. I was very disappointed to learn that. But they are still expected to be capable of doing it I believe.

[@GmailNexus]

The guy at 5:34 😅

[@amandahuggandkiss2998]

Three people didn’t like this film. They might be MiG pilots.

[@marctronixx]

RIP the dislike number..

[@rapman5363]

Why do people get so butthurt because someone hits the dislike button? You like it? Fine hit thumbs up and move on! The dislike button still counts for activity for the content creator anyway.

[@Jeffei-qs7kp]

Very best fighter òf the Coldwar?

[@diamond_tango]

That era of the Cold War maybe. Across the whole thing? Probably the F-15

[@justforever96]

The Cold War includes the F-15 and F-16, the F-14 and F-18. The most successful maybe, depending on how you want to define that. Maybe the coolest. Again subjective.

[@richarddemello4648]

Great flying plane , but a total pos for the ground crew. Duck walk to do any work on the engines. 14 years jet mech on this bird.

[@SUP_Bigans]

The Phantom was a magnificent plane for its age and with upgrade it could be employed by all NATO pilots, but nazionalist and economic interest produced a so many planes, with different materials, handcraft, training and logistics...this one was the worst thing to do in war time. It could be stay in service till the stealth planes. I hope the F 35 will be famous as Phantom and hope not to be used in war time.

[@RM-we7px]

F-35 is like a Swiss Army knife. Ok for a knife or can opener. Useless if you need a crescent wrench or a hammer.

[@rags417]

Next stop: Vietnam !

[@68orangecrate26]

With idiotic commercials throughout

[@justforever96]

What's wrong with these people who don't just find and upload this stuff for you to watch for free? They actually want something in exchange? You actually have to suffer though a few minutes of advertising in exchange for the free content? Absolutely tragic, I weep for you. Definitely can't expect you to just _pay money_ to avoid watching the advertisements, that's ridiculous! Free content provided in exchange for nothing is basically a human right, isn't it?! 😢😢😢

[@68orangecrate26]

@@justforever96 Oh… You got me… It’s not about the commercials (that nobody pays attention too). It’s about the complete breakup of the content. Yes, it’s a ploy to have you pay for KZbin. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this is going the same route as cable TV: You’ll pay for “no commercials” for a while, until your paying for the same content being broken up by commercials. That’s why I won’t pay now - everyone will have too soon enough. I don’t think any of this is a “right”… except for my right to get you spooled up! Have a great day😆.

[@stevehomeier8368]

Not at all maneuverable, lacking an internal gun; these things were easy meat for MiG 19s and 21s

[@BaikalTii]

LOL easy meat. war thunder is not the real world.

[@stevehomeier8368]

@Baikal Tii LOL I don’t play war thunder. The real world is that these awkwardness beats were shredded by cheaper, simpler, and nimble Soviet aircraft’s

[@BaikalTii]

@@stevehomeier8368 war thunder is a good place to get ignorant theories; it seemed a logical conclusion. the only successes Soviet aircraft have had on the Phantom were against aircraft configured for bombing, generally making sneak attacks against unsuspecting targets. when configured as a fighter the Phantom dominated MiGs in Vietnam.

[@stevehomeier8368]

Baikal Tii I would suggest that you yourself are ignorant

[@theorganizer1273]

Steve Homeier it’s not a fighter...